Machine for making envelopes



Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,627`

F. J. PARKS MACHINE FOR MAKING ENVELOPES l'llllllllllf-IIA A Tmp/Vey Dec. 6, 1927. F. J. PARKS MACHINE FOR MAKING ENvELoPEs Filed May io. 1924- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec, 6, 1927.

testez? i FREDERIGK JAMES ARXS, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIQ.

MACHINE FOR MAKING ENVELOPES.

Application yinea may 1o, i924. serial ivo. 712,200.

My invention relates to machines for automatically feeding paper sheets, applying lue to certain portions thereof, and to turnmg over and sealing the same by meansv of the glue upon the body portion of the sheet. The apparatus shown in' the accompanying drawings is particularly adapted for service in making envelopes and relates especially to improvements in a machine of this character shown in U. S.` Letters Patent., No. 1,316,737, issued to me upon September 23, 1919; and also to a machine of this character shown ,in inyf pending application for U. S. Letters Patent, Serial No. 690,423, filed February 4, 1924. The improvements of this application consist in new meansfor gumming the side flaps and side tabs ofthe ent velope blank Whereby'thesame are secu-red to the envelope body to form the sideclosures; ,new means controlling the operation of said gumming means; a new and `im proved form of curling or turnin knife for insuring the folding of the latera side naps down upon the envelope body; a new and improved arrangement of scoring and gumming mechanism, whereby the scoring 1s effected Ain advance of the. gumming so as to obviate the fouling` of the scoring mechanism by the gum; and other detailed arrange- -ments shown in the accompanying drawin s and hereinafter fully described. There is claimed in this application only the new and improved gumming features, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in connection with the manufacture of envelopes, although the same have a field of general application in applying glue to paper sheets.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying my invention, such means constituting,however, but one of the various forms in which the principle of the invention may be applied. l

Insaid. annexed drawings Figure 1 is -a fragmentary plan section v of an envelope machine embodying my improvements, the section being taken in the plane represented by the line I-I, Figure 2;

Figure 2is a longitudinal vertical section, taken in the' plane indicated by the line II-II, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section,P

taken in the plane indicated by the line VI- VI, Figure 2;

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are fragmentary transverse vertical sections, upon an enlarged scale, taken, respectivel in the planes indicated b the lines VI -VII, VIII-VIII,

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinalc section, upon an enlarged scale, taken in the plane indicated by the line XI-XL .Figure 6, and showing the gumming device in its upper ,or non-operative position;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11, showing the gumming device Iin its lower or operative position;

Figure 13 is a front elevation of the elements shown in Figure 11.

Figure 14 represents a plan view of the envelope blank as it emerges from the folding device preparatory to being fed into the improved side sealing devices described, shown and claimed herein; and

Figure 15 represents a plan view of the completely folded and gummed envelope as it passes from the devices forming the subject matter of this application.

Referring to the annexed drawings, in which the several elements are indicated by the same respective ordinals, in the different views, I indicate by the ordinal 2 an envelope blank ina certain condition, hereinfter fully described, which has been folded up so as to have a mouth closure flap detachably interlocked with an adjacent pocket, as fully shown and described in my said Patent No. 1,316,737 and said ending application Serial No. 690,423. T e improvements of this application relate only to parts ofothe device adapted to complete the operations upon the envelope, all as will now be described in detail, having reference to the accompanying drawings.

The envelope blank 2, in the form shown in Fig. 14 but lacking the gum strips 3 4,

. l over which it passes to certam scoring, gumming and side sealing devices which will now `be described in detall.

The envelope blank 2, Figure 14, is fed over the plate 19 in certain scoring rolls 35 and l 36, of which there are two pairs the lower rolls 36 being formed with end anges 36', Figure 7, against which the outer endl face portions of the rolls 35 closely register to define the lateral edge iiaps 32, plainly 20@ shown in Figure 14. The end faces of the upper rolls 35 prevent the turning in of the side flaps 32 further than the position shown in Fig. 7 until said side flaps 32 intersect the bevel faces 40 of portions 39s of a pair Y 26 of turning knives 39, Figs. 8, 9 and 10, which progressively fold down the side flaps 32 until they are finally sealed down upon the envelope portions 29 and the glue 34Y to produce the complete envelope 3 shown in 30 Fig. 15. During these operations the envelope is conveyed by upper rolls 21,41, 43 and 45 and respectively cooperating lower rolls 22, 42, 44 and 46, over the late 47 and passes therefrom to further ro s and- .a stacking device, not forming part of this invention, and one s ecific form of which 1s plainly shown,l described and claimed 1n said pending application Serial No. 690,423.

During its passage from the scoring rolls 35--36 to the turning knife 39, the portions of the blank .2 designated by the or inal 29 are suppliedwith glue 34 by the following devices. Referring particularly to. Figs. 5 and 6, it will be noted that suitably mounted in the frame 1 of the machine is a-solenoid s is pivotally secured thefree end of a bar 86 whose other end is secured toa transverse shaft 89 rotatably mounted in the frame 1. Also secured to the shaft 89 and adjacent the two ends thereof are respective `arms 90 and 90 having U-shaped outer ends between the members 94-94 of which are mounted lrespective rollers 91-91, as ,plainly shown in Fig. 2. Referring particularly j to Figs. 2 and 6, it will be noted that a pair of vertically-reci rocable columns 92-92 suitably gulded y brackets 93-93 `and frame bosses 102-102 aresup orted by the rollers 90-90, respectivel ,an in turn support in brackets `103 at t e'ir upper ends'a transverse tubular shaft 84. Adjustably secured in brackets 104, supported by said transverse shaft 84 are a pair of depending tubularsupports 26 forgumming devices 88 having a core 87 to the upper end of which4 /f K 25. These suppdrts 26 communicate intermediate their upper and lower ends with tubular sections 26 flexible tubes 27 withtubular elbow-sections 262 which in turn receive suitable glue or other gummin material from a source of sxfipply (not s own) through conduits 427 o Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 5, it will be noted that a flat sprlng plate 85 ,suitably supported as hereinafter full described, is formed at one edge into ownwhich fragmentary portions are shown in v connected by means of wardly extending fingers or tri s 23 and 24.

The ends of these fingers 23 an 24 are adj acent the upper-edge of a plate 55 over whlch the envelope b'lan 2 travels after emerging from the scoring rolls 35 and 36, and after traversing an intermediate metal bar or plate 20 hereinafter more fully described. The lower ends of these trips 23 and 24 which contact with the plate 55 are longitudinally spaced, as plainly shown in Fi s.

l and 2 for a scribed. i e

Referring particularly .to Fig. 5,9it will be noted that mounted upon the intermediate late 20 and electrically insulated therefrom purpose hereinafter fully el y1 means of insulating spacers 76 and washers 77 Jis a transverse metal bar 75, Figure 1, upon which the spring plate 85- is mounted and secured by means of bolts 60, one of i which forms a binding post to which an electric. wire 80 is secured.` Referring to the diagrammatic representation of an electric circuit shown in Fig. 3, it will be noted that the'wire 80 leads to a battery 81 and that a second wire 82 connects the battery 81 and the solenoid 88. A third wire 56 connects the solenoid 88\with a binding post 57 electrically connected with the plate 55. `A plate of insulation 78, secured adjacent one transverse edge to the plate 20 by means of bolts 83 `and adjacent the other edge to the plate 47 by means of bolts 61, insulates the frame of the machine from `the metallic elements 'formingthe electric circuit which has just been described. i

' From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing, it will be` evident that when the circuit 1s co pleted and the coil 88 is energized, the core 87 being drawn into the coil 88 will rock the shaft 89 so as will be raised into the position plainlyshown in Figs. 2 and 1.1. This is the normal position of the gumming devices 25 and in this position these devices 25 are non-operative,

i. e. they ,do not feed gum. When the coil 88l is deenergized, the gumming devices fall by4 stheir own weight into the position shown in Figure 12,` which is the gumming position,

against the weight or pull of the bar 86, core 87 and associated elements. How the circuit is opened and the coil 88 conseqluently deenergized will be hereinafter ful y described. The detail construction of the gumming devices will now be described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 11, 12 and 13, it will be noted that the main support 26 of the gumming devices isformed with an angular downwardly-extending lower portion 26 havingan outlet 74 forming a noz- 4 zle. Normally this nozzle is closed by means of a gumming roller 65 mounted between the arms 67 of a 'rocking frame 66 pivoted upon a pin 68 which in turn is mounted in a bracket 69 secured to the support 26. The upper end of the rocking frame 66, in the normal non-operative position of the gummmg devices, is disposed a spaced distance v support 25 is lowered so as to cause the gumming roller 65 to contact the surface 29 of the envelope blank 2,-which is the envelope in the condition shown in Fig. 14 without the m 34-said roller 65 will swing away from the nozzle 74 a distance determined by the space between a screw 73 intersecting the frame 66, and the support 25. This distance between the screw 73 and the support 26 can be regulated by means of the screw 73, as will be readily understood.

Referring now to the medium by which the opening and closing of the electric circuit is controlled so as indirectly to control the feeding of the gum 34. v

This control is through the medium of the spring fingers or trips 23 and 24. T-he lower ends of these fingers 23 and 24 lie in the.

\path of the envelope blank 2 so that said envelope blank 2 passes under said lower ends and raises the spring trips 23 and 24 to break the circuit. Of course, this results in the deenergizing of the coil 88` and th'e consequent release of the columns 92-92 from the upward pressure caused by the pull of the coil 88 upon the core 87 so that said col' umns 9292, under the-force of gravity, are lowered and, consequently, the gumming devices 25 are lowered` whichy allows gum yto escape from the nozzle 74 so soonv as said rollers encounter the envelope blank 2. The gumming that the gum from the nozzle 74 is deposited upon the longitudinally arranged portions 29 of the envelope 2 adjacent the portions thereof which have been scored by the rolls 35 and 36. These portions 29 are plainly devices 25 are so disposed shown in Fig. 14. The mechanism shown is arranged so that these portions are parts of.

the envelope body, but, of course, it is entirely'within the range of the invention to deposit glue 34 upon the side flaps 32. This deposit of the glue 34 will not occur until the forward edge of the envelope 2 has passed beneath both of the fingers 23 and 24. It is evident that until such action has taken place, the electric circuit will not be broken. The arrangement is such that by the time the circuit is thus broken a portion of the envelope blank 2 has passed forwardly of the gumming d evices 25 and consequently the gum is'deposited upon the portions 29 beginning at a point somewhat removed from the-forward edge 4of the blank 2. Also, l

it is evidentthat the circuit will be again closed Just so soon as the rear edge of the blank 2 passes from lbeneath the rear trip 23. The arrangement is such that the consequent stopping of the discharge of the gum takes place upon a portion of the blank 2ysomewhat removed from the rear edge of said blank 2. i

I wish to point out that I have positioned the scoring rolls 35 and 36 forwardly of the gumming devices 25. In so far as Iam informed this is new, and also it is very important because thereby Iv obviate fouling the scoring devices with the gum which is what happens, and with a very great annoyance and loss of eiiiciency, when the scoring of the blanks is eifected subsequent tothe gumming,vbe'cause, of course, the gum lies open and is exposed .during the scoring operation sipce the scoring must be effected before the side enclosures 32 are folded down.

For the further purpose of obviating the inconvenience and delaylcaused by excessive fouling of the machine by gum, I have devised the two-part folding knife 39--393 hereinbefore mentioned. When the beveled curling face 40 is formed upon the body of the gum can be readily and conveniently p wiped off the knife 39-.393. v

These knives 39 are secured by means of bolts 63, Fig. 1, to the frame -1,' the longitudinal alignment of the knives being assured by means of strips 39 secured to an aligning member 392, the bolts 63 intersecting said straps 39'.' -By means vof two series of transversely aligned holes 62 in the frame 1, the knives\39 can be adj usted for envelopes of varying'widths. Other parts of the machine are adjustable for different size envelopes, for instance, the scoring rolls 35 can be transversely adjusted upon-the shaft 48 to which they are secured by the keyway 48, a. suitable size intermediate spacing roll 50 being substituted, these spacing rolls 50, kas plainly shownl and described in said pending application Serial No. 690,426, being resiliently confined between the pair of rolls 35, to allow for the accommodation of the thickness of the envelope 2 between the roll 35 and the flange 36 of the roll 36, Fig. 7. The scoring rolls 36 are adjustably secured to a transverse shaft 49. The gumming devices 25 can be transversely adjusted upon the support 84. In order tc accommodate the envelopes when passing between any of thev cooperating parts of the rolls, the shafts to which the latter are secured are resiliently mounted in the frame 1 in yielding bearings pressed downwardly by means of springs whose tension is adjusted by screws 53, the desired adjustment being fixed by lmeans of lock nuts 54, Fig. 2.

Cooperative driving mechanism for actuating the feeding rolls, scoring rolls, etc., are provided (notshown in detail in this application, but well known in various forms to those skilled in this art).

What I claim, is:

1. In means for automatically applying glue to paper sheets, the combination of sheet-conveying means; glue-feeding means; means forming a normally closed electric circuit including electrically-controlled devices holding said glue-feeding means in non-feeding position, .the arrangement being such. that the travelling sheet cuts the circuit and holds it open temporarily; means closing said glue feeding means when t-he latter are in non-feeding position; means permitting the glue-feeding means and the -sheet to move into juxtaposition when the circuit is open; and means causing the gluefeeding means to function when the latter `-and said sheet are in juxtaposition.

2. In means for automatically applying glue'to paper sheets, the combination of sheet-conveying means; movable glue-feeding means; an electric circuit including devices 'holding said glue-feeding means in non-operative position when the circuit is closed, a portion of the circuit consisting of .a spring trip disposed in the path of the traveling sheet, said trip being moved by the sheet when the latter travels by, to open the circuit, said glue-feeding means assuming operative position when the circuit is open;

' and means closing said glue feeding means when the latter are in non-feeding position, said closing means being opened by Contact with the glue receiving surface when said glue feeding. means assume operative position. v

3.A In means for vautomatically applying glue to paper sheets, the combination of sheet-conveying means; reciprocable glue- .feeding means per se maintaining a gluefeeding position adjacent the sheet, said said solenoid core and disposed adjacently4 below said gluing means supports at its other end; and means controlled by the movement of the sheet for opening and closing the circuit. j

4. In means for automatically applying glue to paper sheets, the combination of sheetconveying means; reciprocable glue-feeding means maintaining per se a glue-feeding position adjacent the sheet, said gluing means comprising nozzles, glue ducts and supporting columns; a normally closed electric circuit including a solenoid, the core of thesolenoid when the coil is energized being adapted to move the supports of the gluing means upwardly so as to remove the glue nozzles from the sheet, the construction consisting of an assembly pivoted to a suitable support intermediate its ends and pivoted at one end to said solenoid core and disposed adj acently below said gluing means supports at its other end; and means adapted to close said nozzles when the glue-feeding means are out of contact with the sheet, the circuit cuts the same and holds it open during a material part of its passage therethrough.

5. In means for automatically applying glue to paper sheets, the combination of sheet-conveying means; movable glue-feeding means indirectly controlled by the movement of the sheet; an electric circuit directl controlling the movement of said glue-feedi-7 ing means and adapted when closed to move the same to, and hold the same in, non-feeding position; a pair oftrips adapted to` intercept the sheet at longitudinallyy spaced points in its path of travel and beactuated thereby, the actuation of both trips by the sheet opening the circuit, the circuit being again closed when the sheet releases one trip, said glue-feeding means being permitted to assume feeding position under the influence of gravity when the circuit is open.

6. In means for automatically applying glue to paper sheets, the combination of sheet-conveying means; movable glue-feeding devices normally assuming under the influence of gravity a feeding position adjacent the sheet; a pair of trips adapted to intercept the sheet at longitudinally spaced points in its path of travel and be actuated thereby; an electric circuit of which said trips form a. part in multiple; and electrical- Abeing so arranged that the travelling sheet I vpart in multiple,

ly-controlled devices forming a part of said circuit and adapted when the circuit is closed to move said glue-feeding devices to, and retain them in, non-feeding position.

glue to paper sheets, the combination of sheet-conveying means; movable glue-feeding devices; a pair of trips adapted to intercept the sheet at longitudinally spaced points in its path of travel and be actuated thereby; an electric circuit of which said trips form a said circuit I including a solenoid; and an assembly pivoted at one end to the core of said solenoid, pivoted intermediate its end to a suitable support and disposed at its other end adjacently below said glue-eeding devices, the latter being free under the influence of gravity to assume feeding position adjacent the sheet when the coil of the solenoid isv deenergized.

8.' In means for automatically applying glue to sheets, a glue-feeding device comprising a support formed with a glue duct having a discharge nozzle and a glue-apply ing roller pivotally mounted on said support and adapted when swinging freely to close said nozzle, the construction being such that, when said device is lowered to allow the roller to contact with the glue-receiving sur face, the roller swings sllghtly away from the nozzle to allow glue to escape therefrom onto the glue-applying roller.

9. In means for automatically applying a glue duct ending in 7. In means for automatically applying glue to sheets, a glue-feeding device comprising a vertical support formed with a downwardly inclined lower portion having a discharge nozzle; a bracket secured to said support; a frame pivoted intermediate its ends in said' bracket; a glue-applying roller extending below the plane of said nozzle and mounted .in one end of said frame; and a spring secured to said support and acting upon the other end of said frame to hold the roller against the nozzle to close the same.

10. In means for automatically applying glue to sheets, a glue-feeding device comprising a vertical support formed with a downwardly inclined lower portion having a glue duct ending in a discharge nozzle; a bracket secured to said support; a frame pivoted intermediate its ends in said bracket; a glue-applying roller extending below the plane of said nozzle and mounted in one end of said frame; a sheet spring secured to said vertical support and bearing against the other end of said frame to hold the roller against the nozzle to close the same; means for adjusting the spring tension against the frame; and means for adjusting the amount by which the nozzle may be opened when the roller is lowered to encounter the glue-receiving surface.

Signed by me this 15th day of April,

FREDERICK JAMES PARKS. 

